Northern Ireland

Childhood adversity and adult trauma cost NI £1.3bn a year

Experts say the intergenerational impact of the Troubles is still hindering the physical, emotional and economic lives of many young people

Pictured l-r; Simon Rogers, TIP Committee Chair, Bernie Mc Nally OBE, Independent Chair of Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland (SBNI), Junior Minister Pam Cameron, Helen Mc Kenzie Operations Director, Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland, Junior Minister Aisling Reilly, Professor Mandy Davis Director of Trauma Informed Oregon Portland State University, Jo Doherty, EPPOC Strategic Partnership Manager.
Pictured l-r; Simon Rogers, TIP Committee Chair, Bernie Mc Nally OBE, Independent Chair of Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland (SBNI), Junior Minister Pam Cameron, Helen Mc Kenzie Operations Director, Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland, Junior Minister Aisling Reilly, Professor Mandy Davis Director of Trauma Informed Oregon Portland State University, Jo Doherty, EPPOC Strategic Partnership Manager.
By Allan Preston

EXPERTS have claimed that unresolved childhood adversity and adult trauma is costing Northern Ireland £1.3bn every year - the equivalent of £3.5m a day.

At a conference in Belfast on Thursday, the Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland (SBNI) called for a collaborative approach across all sectors to protect children and young people.

Speaking at the event, SBNI Independent Chairperson Bernie McNally said the intergenerational impact of the Troubles was still having a major impact on young people.

“Our ambition is to improve society for the people we serve, ensuring that trauma-informed systems are integrated at all levels,” she said.

Efforts by the SBNI include knowledge exchange and pilot programmes as well as a “toolkit” on dealing with trauma for different organisations.

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Dr Colm Walsh from Queen’s University Belfast said that childhood adversities could have a lasting impact on people’s lives across education, employment, physical and mental health.

He said a greater understanding of how people were affected would help inform services and “ultimately improve outcomes across the life course and reduce demand on key public services.”

Stormont Junior Ministers Aisling Reilly (Sinn Féin) and Pam Cameron (DUP) also backed a more coordinated policy approach.

Ms Reilly said: “We know that trauma is not confined to the individual. It affects everyone, including families, our communities and wider society, so it is important that trauma-informed practices are at the core of government policy.”

Ms Cameron added: “Trauma has impacted many of us in Northern Ireland - if not directly, it has impacted someone we know. The impact of our history, combined with everyday adversities means trauma is embedded in many of our communities.”